Putting the ‘Study’ in Bible Study
The past two years or so I’ve tried to implement changes in my Bible Study but they often don’t stick. The problem is that it usually happens later in the year after habits have been formed. This year I’m going to start off right.
The first thing I want to do is put the ‘Study’ back into Bible Study. It’s arguable that our Bible Studies are supposed to be Inductive Bible Studies. They are based on our Sunday sermons so Pastor Min does all the observation and interpretation for us. However many times members miss church on Sunday so they have no idea what the passage is about. This year, I want my small group know how to study the Bible.
1. Teach my small group how to study the Bible.
I also want to give my small group more resources and a binder to store all their stuff. I know that most likely they will not turn into Bible Scholars but
The above section was written on August 17th. It’s one of the posts that I never got around to finishing. I find it interesting as here I am going into the 3rd Bible Study and this is a thought I had back after Servants Retreat. This really is the direction I want to take my Bible Study. I think that it will be helpful and useful with the group of people I have coming to the Bible Studies. The first Bible study was a gauge to see where my small group was at and how they could handle a “traditional” Bible Study. Last week, I broke down the passage more for them, added in structure and it really seemed to help the discussion and their ability to understand, dissect, absorb and apply the passage. This week I’ll show them some tools and help them to do it for themselves.
I don’t want to just have good Bible Study discussions but teach them how to do it on their own. There is more joy when you learn how to study it on your own instead of relying on other people’s insights. Give a member a Bible Study, feed them for a day. Teach them how to study the Bible, feed them for a lifetime.